Not at all. I just want the team to be relevant again and not be in the same level as the Bobcats and the Kings which is simply depressing. You may not give a damn that Gay is overpaid but his contract cripples our cap to make some other moves. With this kind of payroll we should be much better. I don’t understand how you can’t see the big picture, it’s just beyond me.
Look at his salary for the next 2 years:

We all know that he is overpaid, but you make it seem like he is Amare. Rudy Gay is a very good player..

He is a very good player, no doubt about it, but think about it.... If you were the GM and you have some nice pieces to work with, young players to develop, and you know that one player is making close to 18M this year and over 19M next year before he becomes an UFA, what would you do? Also, don't forget that if he plays really well he might opt out after this year and seek for a long term.

He is a very good player, no doubt about it, but think about it.... If you were the GM and you have some nice pieces to work with, young players to develop, and you know that one player is making close to 18M this year and over 19M next year before he becomes an UFA, what would you do? Also, don't forget that if he plays really well he might opt out after this year and seek for a long term.

I am open minded to all options. Just don’t want the team to be so mediocre that we chase the 8th seed, fail to make the playoffs and not even getting decent draft picks because we finish 9th-10th. The last few years were just boring. Me and my coworkers didn’t renew our season tickets after Bosh left. It’s no secret that in order to get good draft picks you need to be a lousy team, or you can trade your assets such as Gay, DD and Lowry for picks.
Even if we tank this year, which I highly doubt so, we might be able to pick a decent player…. Maybe… but if we were to trade for a few picks in a draft that should be deep, this might be a better approach moving forward.

I am open minded to all options. Just don’t want the team to be so mediocre that we chase the 8th seed, fail to make the playoffs and not even getting decent draft picks because we finish 9th-10th. The last few years were just boring. Me and my coworkers didn’t renew our season tickets after Bosh left. It’s no secret that in order to get good draft picks you need to be a lousy team, or you can trade your assets such as Gay, DD and Lowry for picks.
Even if we tank this year, which I highly doubt so, we might be able to pick a decent player…. Maybe… but if we were to trade for a few picks in a draft that should be deep, this might be a better approach moving forward.

Well we can't really tank without trading Gay, Lowry and maybe DD. But it will be very hard to trade for lottery picks this year. So unless we get ridiculously lucky or Gay, DD, Lowry will comeback much improved and raise their trade value tanking is the only way to get the high pick.
Having said that it's way too early to make decisions, I trust that MU will make the right call, I like his approach of weighing all the options.

Well we can't really tank without trading Gay, Lowry and maybe DD. But it will be very hard to trade for lottery picks this year. So unless we get ridiculously lucky or Gay, DD, Lowry will comeback much improved and raise their trade value tanking is the only way to get the high pick.
Having said that it's way too early to make decisions, I trust that MU will make the right call, I like his approach of weighing all the options.

Agreed. I am guessing one of them will be moved before the trade deadline: Lowry has one year left, Gay has one year left + player option and DD has multiple years left.
we'll see what happens, it should get pretty interesting.

No tanking will take place. When Denver had to trade its franchise player, Masai received good young players in return and draft picks. Also Carmelo wanted to leave, so Masai had no choice to trade him. Masai didn't tank in Denver. With the moves for Hansbrough, Augustin, and Novak for the bench, and return of all of its starters, it looks like Masai will be putting a competitive team on the floor. So give up on the tanking dreams.

No tanking will take place. When Denver had to trade its franchise player, Masai received good young players in return and draft picks. Also Carmelo wanted to leave, so Masai had no choice to trade him. Masai didn't tank in Denver. With the moves for Hansbrough, Augustin, and Novak for the bench, and return of all of its starters, it looks like Masai will be putting a competitive team on the floor. So give up on the tanking dreams.

I don't think we are gonna tank. All moves show that we are not tanking, which leads me to think that a few players will be traded before the trade deadline.

No tanking will take place. When Denver had to trade its franchise player, Masai received good young players in return and draft picks. Also Carmelo wanted to leave, so Masai had no choice to trade him. Masai didn't tank in Denver. With the moves for Hansbrough, Augustin, and Novak for the bench, and return of all of its starters, it looks like Masai will be putting a competitive team on the floor. So give up on the tanking dreams.

your guess is as good as mine, but for now it's just a guess. So statements like that means very little..

I don't think we are gonna tank. All moves show that we are not tanking, which leads me to think that a few players will be traded before the trade deadline.

Maybe I'm just seeing what I want to see, but all the moves so far haven't really inclined in favour of tanking or not. They have all been maximizing Masai's options. DJ is a guy who has starting experience and although IMO he's not that great and the numbers agree with me, Masai views him as a guy who could fill in a starting role in case anything were to happen to Lowry. If Masai was really set on stacking up the bench or making the team a for sure playoff team, he would've gone for guys like Nate or S&T for Millsap.

The moves haven't been blatant tanking moves like Philly or Boston but sometimes you gotta read between the lines. :mattyd:

Maybe I'm just seeing what I want to see, but all the moves so far haven't really inclined in favour of tanking or not. They have all been maximizing Masai's options. DJ is a guy who has starting experience and although IMO he's not that great and the numbers agree with me, Masai views him as a guy who could fill in a starting role in case annoying were to happen to Lowry. If Masai was really set on stacking up the bench or making the team a for sure playoff team, he would've gone for guys like Nate or S&T for Millsap.

The moves haven't been blatant tanking moves like Philly or Boston but sometimes you gotta read between the lines. :mattyd:

Good point. DJ is not that horrible and can start as well if needed. This is why I said I won't be surprised if Lowry will be traded first. Also, if you remember, the media reported that OKC and the Heat showed interest in Buycks, but he chose Toronto because apparently he was granted the backup role and not the 3rd PG role like Miami and OKC offered him, then we signed DJ.. So maybe, who knows. I will try to find the article that says he chose Toronto over OKC and Miami.Lewenberg: Raptors to add another point guard in Buycks

Good point. DJ is not that horrible and can start as well if needed. This is why I said I won't be surprised if Lowry will be traded first. Also, if you remember, the media reported that OKC and the Heat showed interest in Buycks, but he chose Toronto because apparently he was granted the backup role and not the 3rd PG role like Miami and OKC offered him, then we signed DJ.. So maybe, who knows. I will try to find the article that says he chose Toronto over OKC and Miami.Lewenberg: Raptors to add another point guard in Buycks

I wouldn't put too much stock in an article written for TSN.ca prior to signing DJ. I doubt the Raptors ever guaranteed him the back up role, he just happened to be in pole position at the time the article was written to inherit that spot.

I wouldn't put too much stock in an article written for TSN.ca prior to singing DJ. I doubt the Raptors ever guaranteed him the back up role, he just happened to be in pole position at the time the article was written to inherit that spot.

Masai said last week that they had to get an experienced PG because Buycks has no nba experience. no way did they offer him the backup role. All they did was replace Stone with Buycks for the 3rd PG role.

Masai said last week that they had to get an experienced PG because Buycks has no nba experience. no way did they offer him the backup role. All they did was replace Stone with Buycks for the 3rd PG role.

If Miami, OKC and Portland were all in the mix and he chose Toronto, what does it tell you? If he was supposed to be a 3rd PG in Miami, OKC or Portland but chose us, the Raptors, the franchise that players usually don't choose as their first choice. Unless he was offered the 2nd PG spot and more playing time, I don't see a reason to pick Toronto out of the four.

If Miami, OKC and Portland were all in the mix and he chose Toronto, what does it tell you? If he was supposed to be a 3rd PG in Miami, OKC or Portland but chose us, the Raptors, the franchise that players usually don't choose as their first choice. Unless he was offered the 2nd PG spot and more playing time, I don't see a reason to pick Toronto out of the four.

I think we're making too much out of the wording. DJ was signed for only 1 year, he'll help to cover off Buycks as he adjusts to the NBA and he'll be the insurance policy for two possibilities with Lowry, a) if he's traded in Dec/Jan or b) is injured...again.

If Miami, OKC and Portland were all in the mix and he chose Toronto, what does it tell you? If he was supposed to be a 3rd PG in Miami, OKC or Portland but chose us, the Raptors, the franchise that players usually don't choose as their first choice. Unless he was offered the 2nd PG spot and more playing time, I don't see a reason to pick Toronto out of the four.

Nah, he liked the winning culture we developed by winning meaningless games at the end of the season that cost us guys like barnes and curry :mattyd: